A bunch of Google apps are getting updates today! Google Drive is next, and the update is a good one. The first thing you’ll notice is that it comes with a refreshed UI, namely the card layout Google is so fond of. It’s called the grid view and actually looks really good. We hope that Google continues on the goal of making all their apps so pretty.

Document scanning has also been included, which allows you to take a photo of a document and save it. It uses OCR (Optical Character Recognition) to convert the documents into PDFs, which is awesome for those who are making their life digital. You can now scan receipts and store them in the cloud!

A new feature that doesn’t seem to be very much appreciated is one that the lack of has driven me mad. You can now download files to your device from Google Drive. And why the heck was this never included? It’s pretty important for cloud storage to go both ways, not just one. Either way, I’m happy it’s finally here. Here is the full changelog for your enjoyment:

- New grid view makes it easier to find your files
- New quick preview lets you view photos and other files from within the app
- Scan documents, receipts and letters for safe keeping in Drive; then search by contents once uploaded
- Download a copy of files to your local device (Honeycomb+)
- Spreadsheet editor now supports changing fonts, colors and cell alignment
- View properties of files from within the editors
- Bug fixes and visual improvements

It’s a pretty large update, so hit the source link to update the app, or head over to the Play Store on your device. Tell us what feature you’re most excited about in the comments!

About Dima Aryeh

Dima Aryeh is a Russian obsessed with all things tech. He does photography, is an avid phone modder (who uses an AT&T Galaxy Note II), and a heavy gamer (both PC and 360). He is also an avid fan of music, especially power metal. Follow him on Twitter @Haloruler64!

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